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T H I S

I S S U E :

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tel: 624-4710 NAS I Midtown

NHSigonella-HealthPromotion@med.navy.mil / Facebook: Search Health Promotion Sigonella

A SE NS E OF HE A LTH

December 2012

Online

Resources: www.nida.nih.gov/

www.StopImpairedDriving

.org.

Catch a Buzz,

Catch a Ride

1

Why is Drugged

Driving Hazard-

ous?

2

How NOT To

Get Stuffed

3

No matter who

you are, drunk

driving has seri-

ous conse-

quences.

4

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, IF YOU CATCH A BUZZ, CATCH A RIDE

Impaired driving is one of Amer-

ica’s deadliest crimes. Nationally,

more than 17,000 people died in

alcohol-related highway crashes

during 2003. Every 30 minutes,

nearly 50 times a day, someone in

America dies in an alcohol-related

crash. Hundreds of thousands more

are injured each year. According to

the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA),

about three in every ten Americans

will be involved in an alcohol-

related crash at some point in their

lives.

That is why the Health Promotion

Department is reminding everyone

this holiday season to always desig-

nate a sober driver before each holi-

day party or event involving alco-

hol.

The holiday season is supposed to

be a time for family, friends, and

festive celebrations. Unfortunately,

each year between Thanksgiving

and New Year’s, it is also a time

when there is a tragic jump in the

number of alcohol-related highway

fatalities .

Remembering to designate a sober

driver before the party begins is just

one of several, simple, steps to help

avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for

impaired

driving during the holiday season.

Other reminders include:

Never get behind the wheel of your

vehicle if you’ve been out drinking;

Or, just stay where you are and sleep it

off until you are sober;

If you are hosting a party this holiday

season, remind your guests to always

plan ahead to designate a sober driver,

always offer alcohol-free beverages

during the event, and make sure all of

your guests leave with a sober driver;

and lastly,

Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive

Drunk. Take the keys and never let a

friend leave your sight if you think

they are about to drive while impaired.

Since 1981, every President of the

United States has proclaimed Decem-

ber “National Drunk and Drugged

Driving (3D) Prevention Month” to

help underscore the public’s commit-

ment to

C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1 .

Page 2 A S E N S E O F H E A L T H

preventing impaired driving, and to promote the use of designated drivers and sober ride programs. The month of December and the New Year’s Eve holiday are often highlighted by significant increases in state and local law enforcement efforts to combat impaired driving. These efforts include a greater use of sobri-ety checkpoints and saturation patrols. Driving impaired or riding with someone who is, is simply not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk your life, but you also risk injuring someone else. The trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant. Not to mention, it is not the way you want to spend your holiday season. If impaired, call a taxi – use mass transit if available – or call a sober friend or family member to come and get you.

TASTY & NON-ALCOHOLIC

DRINKS

Holiday Punch 1 large jar cran-grape juice 1 liter bottle ginger ale 1 con-tainer orange sherbet Whole cranberries Combine juice and ginger ale. Add sherbet by small scoops. Top with cranberries. Jogger's Nog 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice (chilled)1/2 cup plain yo-gurt1 tablespoon honey6 ice cubes Combine ingredients in blender container. Cover and run on high until well blended. Serve in chilled glasses. Makes 2 servings (10 oz. each)

Why is Drugged Driving Hazardous? Drugs acting on the brain can alter perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, reac-tion time, and other faculties required for safe driving. The effects of specific drugs of abuse dif-fer depending on their mechanisms of action, the amount consumed, the history of the user, and other factors.

Marijuana THC affects areas of the brain that control the body’s movements, balance, coordination, mem-ory, and judgment, as well as sensations. Because these effects are multifaceted, more research is required to understand marijuana's impact on the ability of drivers to react to complex and unpredictable situations. However, we do know that:

A meta-analysis of approximately 60 experimental studies, including laboratory, driving

simulator, and on-road experiments, found that behavioral and cognitive skills related to

driving performance were impaired in a dose-dependent fashion with increasing THC blood levels.11

Evidence from both real and simulated driving studies indicates that marijuana can nega-

tively affect a driver's attentiveness, perception of time and speed, and the ability to draw on information obtained from past experiences.

A study of over 3000 fatally-injured drivers in Australia showed that when marijuana was

present in the blood of the driver they were much more likely to be at fault for the acci-dent. And the higher the THC concentration, the more likely they were to be culpable.

Research shows that impairment increases significantly when marijuana use is combined with

alcohol. Studies have found that many drivers who test positive for alcohol also test posi-tive for THC, making it clear that drinking and drugged driving are often linked behaviors.

Source: National Insti-tute on Drug Abuse http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/driving.html

Page 3 A S E N S E O F H E A L T H

How NOT To Get Stuffed From Hope Publications Pamphlet

“During the Holidays … How not to get stuffed”

It’s that time of year again—Christmas parties, office potlucks, holiday gather-

ings...with all the trimmings! But what can you do to not get stuffed and avoid

those holiday pounds???

The holiday season does not have to mean weight gain. With all the love that you

put into giving to others, give it back to yourself by planning on ways to avoid

the extra pounds. Here are some tips to use this season:

Do’s & Don’ts

Don’t: Skip Breakfast

Do: Eat a good hearty breakfast, with oat

meal, bananas, nonfat milk, and toast.

Enough to help you feel full till lunch

time.

Don’t: Snack on Chips, crackers, nuts etc

throughout the day.

Do: Eat a light lunch like a sandwich,

fruit, and veggies.

Don’t: Hit the buffet table feeling hun-

gry.

Do: Have a mid-afternoon snack like

nonfat milk or a cookie—yes a cookie is

OK.

Do: Chew gum or drink a low calorie

drink while helping in the kitchen.

Don’t: Gobble down your food and then

move straight to seconds.

Do: Choose small amounts of your favor-

ite foods from the buffet, eat slowly and

push the plate away before you get to that

yucky overly full feeling.

Don’t: Don’t be a couch potato right

after your meal.

Do: Take a walk and let your food di-

gest.

Don’t: Get up at a 2AM for a turkey

sandwich.

Before a Meal or Party

Exercise to relieve any stress

and reduce your appetite.

Eat a light breakfast and

lunch—this way you go into

the meal or party with the

feeling of starvation!

An hour before have a class

or nonfat milk or fruit to take

the edge off your appetite.

Communicate with your

host—ask your host what

will be served so that you

can plan ahead or if you

want to make any healthy

requests. Offer to bring a

healthy option.

As a host...

Place serving dishes on a side table. Conver-

sation becomes the focus and people are not

tempted for seconds, thirds...or fourths.

Provide low-calorie snacks, foods, and

drinks.

Never force food or drinks onto people who

say no.

No matter who you are, drunk driving has serious consequences.

Not only do you risk killing or injuring yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant.

Drunk driving violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance

rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, and lost wages due to time off from work.

Don’t let your 2010 end with an arrest…or worse, death. Plan before you go out, and remem-

ber, whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many it’s just not worth the risk.

Impaired drivers who fail to plan ahead, take the holiday spirit right out of this

happy time. Here are a few simple tips to avoid a drunk driving disaster:

Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin; Before drinking, designate a sober driver; If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transporta-tion so you are sure to get home safely; Use your community’s Sober Rides program If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law en-forcement; And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

More information can be found on www.StopImpairedDriving.org.